Trips That Will Change Your Kid's Life

The 20 Best Experiences You Can Give Your Kid(s) Right Now

We all remember those trips that our parents took us on when we were kids. These kinds of experiences are forever engrained in us and, in many ways, helped to make us the responsible (hopefully) adults we are today. So instead of taking the time to search the Web high and low in order to find the right trip for you and your family, we did the work for you. Here are the 20 trips, activities and experiences that your kid will never, ever forget.

The Everglades

The Everglades are the only remaining subtropical wilderness in America, and the only place on Earth where crocodiles and alligators coexist. Home to its share of endangered species (as well as some newly-introduced invasive ones, like the Burmese python), the Everglades are considered an International Biosphere Reserve, a World Heritage Site, and a Wetland of International Importance, making it one of only three locations in the world to appear on all three lists.

The Griffith Observatory

Much of what some people say about Los Angeles is true. It does tend to have an economy fueled almost entirely by those in the entertainment industry. Sometimes superficiality does reign supreme. Yet if you’re of the glass-­is-half-­full mindset and enjoy taking the good with the bad, Los Feliz’s Griffith Observatory is straight up beautiful. Most regard it as the absolute best view in all of Los Angeles. If you treat yourself to a trip at sunset, you’ll be absolutely astounded at what you’re gazing down upon. You’ll forget the traffic. You won’t care about that model who didn’t give you the time of day at the bar the night before. No, all you’ll care about is snapping a breathtaking photo and sending it to a friend.

The Half Dome

One of the most famous pieces of rock in the world is also the backdrop for one of America’s great hikes. The 15‐mile round trip hike to the top of 8,840‐foot Half Dome includes an absolutely breathtaking (in both scenery and elevation gain) approach followed by a cable‐assisted scramble straight up the rock itself. After clawing and climbing your way to the top, all that’s left to do is relax and enjoy expansive views of the Yosemite Valley and surrounding mountains.

South Point Cliffs

Looking for one of the most beautiful spots to cliff dive in the 50 states? Well, with heights of over 75 feet, the South Point Cliffs on the big island of Hawaii offer an iconic jump at the birthplace of the sport. When the Hawaiian King Kahekili ruled in the 1700’s, he actually tested his warriors’ loyalty and bravery by having them jump off the ledge into the rough waters. For those who make the trip to the southernmost point in the United States, they’ll peer at the endless ocean horizon to reenact the legendary ritual and enjoy one the most exciting cliff dives in the world.

Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge

The Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge is 152,000 acres along the North Carolina coast. This was established to preserve a pocosin habitat, which is a type of wetland known for its acidic, sandy soil. It’s also one of the last strongholds for black bears in Eastern North Carolina and is home to alligators, waterfowl and otters.

Rat’s Nest Cave

Rat’s Nest Cave is located in the picturesque Canadian Rockies, most of which have been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Found on the south slope of Grotto Mountain, Rat’s Nest Cave contains the sorts of things you’d expect to find in a cave: Stalactites, stalagmites, tunnels, etc. What makes it unique, though, are the collections of animal remains visitors can find hidden throughout the cave.

The Grand Canyon

For most people, The Grand Canyon is the definition of awe-inspiring. Massive in ways most canyons can only fantasize about, the Grand Canyon averages 4,000 feet deep and is 15 miles wide at its widest. There’s no shortage of ways to explore it — you can hike along the rim, or take a tour down the canyon walls to the floor far below. Once there, visitors can camp or explore the river via inner tube or rafting boat.

Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree, the closest National Park to Los Angeles, is world­ renowned for its legendarily gorgeous desert hiking. The trails climb up prominent peaks, meander through cactus gardens, reach hidden oases, and then wander near the ruins of ghost towns. And then, just when you think you’ve experienced all Joshua Tree has to offer, the daytime of slow­paced adventure gradually fades into a nighttime of unprecedented stargazing. Do yourself a favor and take the trip.

Fundy Circuit

The Bay of Fundy is home to the world’s highest tides, a phenomenon that has carved out an incredible landscape of cliffs, sea caves and sea stacks. The Fundy Circuit drops you into Fundy National Park, connecting seven individual trails over 30 miles. You’ll travel along the coast, over rivers and into forests for a five‐sense feast of park scenery.

The Horseshoe Bend

The Horseshoe Bend hike is the ultimate Grand Canyon experience: After about a 0.75‐mile distance, hikers will discover an absolutely jaw‐dropping view of a natural wonder where the clear, green Colorado River curls into a horseshoe‐shape. Stand in silence and awe as you overlook a 1000‐foot drop to the bottom and admire the beauty millions of years in the making. Better still, every experience on this trail is brand new because the colors of the rocks change throughout the day, the shadows move around the shapes, and the river changes hues.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The 522,000-acre Great Smoky Mountains National Park is America’s most visited national park and straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee. The park is home to 200 species of birds, 66 species of mammals, 50 species of fish, 39 species of reptiles, and 43 species of amphibians, including many lungless salamanders. The park is most famous for its large population of black bears.

Old Faithful

Located in the generally awe-inspiring Yellowstone National Park, Old Faithful spews as much as 8,400 gallons of boiling water 185 feet when it erupts. What’s interesting about Old Faithful is that its name is a bit of a misnomer: Eruption intervals can be anywhere from 45 to 125 minutes, currently averaging 91 minutes.

The Columbia Icefield

One of the many must‐sees of the stunning Canadian Rockies, the Columbia Icefield lets you get intimate with the region’s glacial geography. Ride out onto the Athabasca Glacier in a large, rugged ice bus, step onto the ice, and enjoy millions of years worth of that ice’s handiwork in the form of massive, glacially carved mountains. While the Athabasca Glacier is quite popular and accessible, it’s not without its hazards; glacial crevasses can kill, so be sure to travel with a guide and follow all regulations.

Cave of the Crystals

Located adjacent to a mine, the Cave of the Crystals is home to some of the world’s largest crystal formations, up to 36 feet long and weighing 55 tons. Despite their awesome size, most of the crystals are gypsum, which is relatively worthless. If you manage to visit, don’t plan to stay for long: With temperatures of up to 136 degrees and 90-99% humidity, visitors can only endure about 10 minutes without special equipment.

Chichen Itza

Mexico’s Mayan ruins are all famous in their own right, but perhaps none more so than Chichen Itza, which occupies a 2.5 mile radius on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Chichen Itza is dominated by the central pyramid of El Castillo. Though technically man-made, it hardly feels that way — it’s amazing to see what humans were capable of building thousands of years before modern engineering and constructions.

Big Sur

When people first visit California, there’s one destination that seemingly every local will collectively agree is a must­ visit. That destination is Big Sur. While there are miles upon miles of trails for the dedicated hiker, Big Sur also offers spectacular scenery within steps of Highway 1. From lush redwood forests to incredible ocean views, the tranquility of not only the destination, but also the gorgeous Pacific Coast drive, makes Big Sur an absolute necessity.

Channel Islands National Park

Channel Islands National Park consists of five to eight small islands not far off the coast of Los Angeles. Although close to L.A., the area is underdeveloped and was named a National Landmark in 1938. The park is famously home to numerous harbor seals and sea lions, and is also home to pelicans and foxes.

Boulder

Driving through Boulder, Colorado is like driving through a postcard. In Boulder, the air just seems to be a little more crisp, and the stress level just seems to be a little bit lower. If you truly need to take it easy, just imagine this scene: You’re sitting on the back porch of a Colorado cabin with your feet up, a cold beverage in your hand and the foothills of the Rocky Mountains are staring you dead in the eye. Who wouldn’t enjoy that?

Carlsbad Cavern

It’s amazing the amount of work that Mother Nature can do beneath your feet, out of sight and out of mind. Situated beneath the Guadalupe Mountains, the Carlsbad Caverns are among the largest and most ornate caverns in the world. The most prominent feature is the “big room,” so named because it’s 4,000 feet long, 625 feet wide, and 255 feet high at the highest point.

Watkins Glen State Park

Located in Western New York at the tip of Seneca Lake, there are all sorts of amazing things to see and explore in Watkins Glen State Park. But, if we’re being honest, the most astounding feature is the Rainbow Bridge and falls. With bridges constructed among the natural rock formations and waterfalls, we dare anyone to walk through the area without feeling like they’ve been transported to Rivendell in the Lord of the Rings movies.

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